The Fake Luna: Marked By The Alpha King

Chapter 196: Chapter 196 The Takeover

Aria’s POV

I arrived at Holt Enterprises at exactly ten o’clock.

I’d scheduled the board meeting last night and contacted the media myself, feeding them a story juicy enough to make headlines. By now, the bomb should already be ticking.

My heels clicked against the marble as I crossed the lobby, two lawyers flanking me, a court official behind them carrying documents sealed with the Pack Council’s stamp.

I didn’t need to announce myself. Everyone knew I was coming.

The elevator opened on the top floor.

Through the glass walls of the boardroom, I could see them waiting—Ethan at the head of the table, his father Gerald beside him, nervous executives scattered around the room.

I pushed the door open. Every head turned.

Ethan rose immediately, anticipation shifting to confusion. "Aria—"

I walked past him without a glance, past Gerald’s expectant stare, straight to the head of the table—the seat reserved for the Alpha of this Pack. The seat Ethan had occupied for years.

I didn’t sit.

One of my lawyers stepped forward. "Good morning. I’m here on behalf of Ms. Aria Smith, who as of three days ago holds fifty percent equity in Holt Enterprises, making her the largest single shareholder.

Under the shareholder agreement and Pack Council charter, Ms. Smith is entitled to full decision-making authority and management oversight."

Murmurs rippled through the room.

Some of them had known me as Ethan’s Luna—quiet, competent, invisible. A human playing house in a world built by wolves.

Now I was holding the leash.

"Everyone," I said, cutting through the noise. "I won’t waste your time. I have an announcement, and then you’re free to go."

Ethan tensed. "Aria, what are you—"

"Based on documented evidence of gross mismanagement, failed infrastructure projects, and severe reputational damage caused by personal misconduct."

I continued, flat and final, "I am exercising my authority as majority shareholder to remove Ethan Holt from his position as CEO and President of Holt Enterprises."

The room went dead silent.

Then Ethan exploded.

"Are you out of your mind?" He shoved his chair back, his wolf in his eyes now—wild, furious, barely leashed. "You think you can just walk in here and strip me of everything I’ve built?"

"You didn’t build it." My voice was ice. "I did. You just put your name on it."

His hands balled into fists. "This is my Pack. My company. My legacy."

"And it’s collapsing. The infrastructure deal fell through because you didn’t vet the contractors. The V&A Group pulled funding because they lost faith in your leadership."

I watched his face pale. "Your legacy is crumbling, Ethan. And I’m the only one who can save it."

Gerald slammed his hand on the table. "This is absurd! You can’t remove my son on baseless accusations!"

"They’re not baseless." I turned to him, letting the anger show for the first time. "And you’re next."

His eyes widened.

"Gerald Holt, as former Alpha and current Chairman, you’ve enabled every one of Ethan’s mistakes. You’ve allowed this company to hemorrhage resources while protecting your son’s reputation at the Pack’s expense.

Effective immediately, you’re stripped of all authority within Holt Enterprises. You retain your shares—but no operational control."

"You little—" Gerald’s voice was a snarl, his wolf rising. "This company is built on Pack bonds, on loyalty and hierarchy. You’re human. You don’t understand what it means to challenge an Alpha."

"I understand perfectly. That’s why I’m doing it."

Ethan stepped forward, dominance rolling off him in waves—meant to make me submit, to remind me of my place.

But I’d stopped responding to his authority the moment I learned he’d Marked Clara instead of me.

"Aria." His voice was low, strained. "You want to punish me? Fine. I deserve it. But don’t destroy the Pack to do it."

"I’m not destroying anything. I’m cleaning house."

He flinched.

A high-ranking pack member named Harry cleared his throat.

"Ms. Smith, with all due respect... even with majority shares, governance requires a vote. If the other shareholders oppose, we can delay implementation."

I’d been waiting for this.

My lawyer stepped forward with a tablet. "Under Pack Council law and corporate charter, a majority shareholder has unilateral authority over personnel decisions unless there is unanimous opposition from all other voting members.

Two other shareholders are present today, each holding one percent. If either supports Ms. Smith’s motion, it takes effect immediately."

All eyes turned to Malcolm and Trevor near the back—Gerald’s oldest allies, fortunes tied to the Holt family for decades.

Ethan looked at them, desperate. "Malcolm. Trevor. You know this is insane."

Gerald growled. "Vote. Now."

Neither moved. Loyalty warred with self-preservation in their eyes.

So I gave them one last push.

"Gentlemen," I said softly, turning the tablet toward them, "check the news before you decide."

Malcolm leaned in. His face went white. Trevor checked his phone and looked up, horrified.

"What is that?" Ethan demanded.

I let Malcolm read the headline aloud.

"’Prominent Pack Alpha Exposed in Marriage Fraud Scandal—Secret Wife and Child Revealed.’" His voice shook. "It’s about you."

The room erupted.

Ethan lunged for the tablet, but my lawyer stepped between us.

"That’s a lie!" Ethan roared. "This is slander—"

"It’s the truth." My voice cut through the chaos. "You told me I was your True Mate. That we were Bonded by the Moon Goddess herself. But you’d already Marked Clara. You’d already had a son with her."

His face twisted. "I can explain—"

"There’s nothing to explain." I turned back to Malcolm and Trevor. "The article went live three hours ago. It’s already trending. Holt Enterprises’ reputation is tanking as we speak."

I let that sink in.

"So here’s your choice. Stand with Ethan and Gerald and watch this company burn—or stand with me, and maybe we can salvage what’s left."

The silence was suffocating.

Then Malcolm cleared his throat. "I support Ms. Smith’s motion. Effective immediately."

Trevor hesitated only a second. "I support it as well."

Gerald’s face turned purple. "You traitorous—"

"We’re protecting the Pack," Malcolm said quietly. "That’s all we’ve ever done."

I turned to the head of security at the door.

"Escort Alpha Ethan Holt and Alpha Gerald Holt from the building. Effective immediately, they are not permitted on company property without my written authorization."

The guards moved forward.

Ethan stared at me, his wolf barely restrained. "You promised. You said if I gave you the shares, you’d let this go."

"I never promised you anything. You assumed. Just like you assumed I’d stay loyal while you lied to my face for two years."

For a moment I thought he might shift—might let his wolf tear the room apart.

He didn’t.

He just looked at me, and something broke behind his eyes.

"I loved you," he whispered.

"No," I said. "You didn’t."

The guards closed in. Gerald staggered to his feet, face ashen, one hand pressed to his chest.

"You’ll regret this," he rasped. "Every second of it."

"Maybe. But not today."

They left.

The room was silent.

I stood alone at the head of the table and felt the weight of what I’d done settle over me like a cloak.

Taking over Holt Enterprises was only the beginning.

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